10 Years Ago · July 12, 1999 • It smashed through the region like a runaway boulder, leaving in its wake thousands of acres of destroyed and wounded wilderness. It trapped hundreds of people inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, injuring many. It dropped trees on roofs, cars and tents, and blasted electrical and telephone lines to the ground, leaving most of the Gunflint Trail area in darkness.
According to the National Weather Service, the Fourth of July storm hit Cook County between 12:50 and 1:40 on Sunday afternoon. It brought with it winds that ranged between 80 and 100 miles per hour. • TheGrand Marais City Council heard some welcome news at their recent meeting.
Members of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon’s board of directors were in attendance to inform the city that the 2000 marathon would finish in the city.
Also, Grand Marais will be the starting point for a 30-mile race for younger mushers, who will begin their competition on Coast Guard Point.
20 Years Ago · July 10, 1989 • Soon work begins on upgrading sections of the Pincushion Mountain ski trail system into hiking trails.
The Forest Service has challenged the North Superior Ski and Run Club to raise $4,000 to be matched by $4,000 from the Forest Service.
The monies will be used to install culverts, ditching and bridges on seven miles of trail.
The main hiking trail will start at the Grand Marais Scenic Overlook off the Gunflint Trail and continue to the Devil Track Canyon, and follow the canyon edge to Pincushion Mountain’s summit. • Minnesota’s state walleye record nearly fell last week when Bob Bruininks of Minneapolis landed a 17-pound, 6 ounce fish on Loon Lake on July 4. The current record is a 17-pound, 8-ounce walleye that was caught by Leroy Chiovitte of Hermantown from Cook County’s Seagull River.
50 Years Ago · July 9, 1959 • A fawn was rescued from the harbor Thursday. Rick Thomson and Stanton Ose saw the deer, and by maneuvering Rick’s speedboat beyond the deer, headed it toward shore.
It had been seen earlier by John Larson, 96, who spotted it near Ralph Jackson’s residence. • A new News-Herald record was set this week with a press run of 1,720 papers. • Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, of Great Britain, on tour of Canada, will arrive today for a visit at the Canadian Lakehead.
It is expected that a number of people from this area will be there to see the royal couple. From Fort William, the royal party will continue westward to the Canadian West Coast, and also fly northward into the Yukon and Northwest Territories. • With the annual Fisherman’s Picnic a mere month away, the tempo of ticket selling and making of arrangements by various committees has been stepped up considerably.
The top prize, which is being dangled before the general public, is now on display in the downtown area. It is the 14-foot fiberglass Runabout Hiawatha boat, sleek of line and tempting in every department, and “real class” as boats run.
With this will be given away a trailer, with which to carry the boat to a favorite lake.
Theretail value of the prize is close to $800. • Penny Drowley, 2, was judged the “nicest little lady” in the July 4 Baby Show.
The show was held at Leng’s Theater, and emceed by Leonard Sobanja.
90 Years Ago · July 9, 1919 • The people of Grand Marais were witnesses to a most beautiful but destructive spectacle when the steamer Liberty and part of the dock burst into flames as if by magic last Sunday evening.
At first it seemed as if the whole dock was on fire. Every line of the burning boat could be plainly seen outlined in tongues of flames and the red rafters of the burning fish house on the dock were vividly outlined against the rocks.
It was a calm night, the moon was up above the white lighthouse, and the whole panorama with the burning Liberty in the foreground was reflected in the water. After a time the rope attaching the steamer to its moorings burnt and the boat drifted out in the harbor toward the old mill, where it burned all night and most of the next day, until now nothing remains of the oncebeautiful ship but the burned-out boilers and a mass of scrap iron.
Nobody was hurt, but the captain and one of the crew both lost their shoes.
Thecause of the firehas not been determined. • J.C. Murphy has opened a general store in the Stubstad building on Broadway. He received a shipment of stock on the Sunday boat and is equipping his store with a refrigerator and will be ready to handle meats by next week.
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